COLLEGE STATION – The Department of Animal Science welcomed 215 young livestock judgers to Aggieland this summer for several days of intensive livestock evaluation skill development.
Photos by Katie Eslick.
The Texas A&M Livestock Judging Camps were held May 31-June 2, June 14-16 and June 21-23 and brought together some of the brightest 4-H and FFA youth members from eight states to learn from the current and former members of the Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team.
Students sharpened their skills in evaluating sheep, swine, goat and cattle while gaining experience in the organization, presentation and delivery of oral reasons.
“I was extremely impressed by the passion and ability demonstrated by the youth livestock judgers at the 2013 judging camp series,” said Brant Poe, Livestock Judging Team coordinator and coach. “The Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team members were honored to share their knowledge and expertise with these young judgers, as they all showed promise of a bright future within the world of livestock judging.”
After receiving instruction on evaluation techniques for both market and breeding animals within each species, the students were given the opportunity to test their skills in a livestock judging contest.
Results from the contest include:
- Camp 1: High Individual Overall – Kylie Patterson, San Antonio; Novice Champion – Cheyenne Swor, Diboll
- Camp 2: High Individual Overall – Kenzee Crisswell, Elida, N.M.; Novice Champion – Sean Cox of Hearne
- Camp 3: High Individual Overall – Coy Kern, Duncan, Okla.; Novice Champion – Lauren Lee, Hamilton
The camp was led by Poe, team coaches Caleb Boardman and Cassidy Hayes, and 2013 and 2014 Livestock Judging Team members and former team members. Rebecca Hamilton, animal science graduate student, served as camp coordinator.
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For more information regarding news from the Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, please contact Courtney Coufal at cacoufal@tamu.edu or (979) 845-1542.